Cherie Booth appointed Emeritus Chancellor
"An outstanding Chancellor and champion of LJMU"
After seven years, Cherie Booth QC has come to the end of her term as Chancellor of LJMU.
To follow her successful term of office, Cherie Booth was installed as an Emeritus Chancellor (an honorary position) on Wednesday 26 July 2006, during one of LJMU's graduation ceremonies at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
Professor Michael Brown, LJMU’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “Cherie Booth has been an outstanding Chancellor and champion of LJMU. Her professional achievements mean that she is a great role model and inspiration for our students – she proves that if you have ability and work hard enough you can achieve your dreams."
He continued: "Chancellor Cherie Booth has overseen great developments in the University activities and standing and now she will be supporting LJMU as Chancellor Emeritus as we undertake great changes in the experience we offer our students in terms of skills development. She has worked hard for the University over a sustained period of time and has maintained her enthusiasm and commitment to LJMU’s ethos and ambitions throughout. On behalf of the whole LJMU community I would like to thank Cherie for her remarkable contribution."
Cherie Booth’s association with LJMU began when she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in 1997. She was subsequently appointed Chancellor in 1999. Acknowledging her contribution to the University in her role as Chancellor, Cherie Booth also officially opened a new LJMU building named in her honour earlier this year.
Cherie Booth said: "It has been a great privilege to serve as Chancellor for such an outstanding university. Like the City of Liverpool, LJMU is thoroughly modern but recognises its historical origins. It is a place where people want to work and study not only because of its academic quality but also because it is highly creative and at the cutting edge in so many ways."
She continued: "As Chancellor, I felt it was very important to be closely involved with the work of the University because of its commitment to producing not only well educated and lively graduates but ones well equipped to deal with modern business needs. LJMU enables people from non-traditional backgrounds to not only aspire but to actually do. As someone from a non-traditional background myself, this means a lot to me."
Clearly, athough the ceremony marked the end of her offical term as Chancellor at the University, it does not mark the end of her association with LJMU.
Cherie Booth explained: "There is a growing sense of excitement and pride in Liverpool, both in the UK and internationally, and its success in becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2008 has had enormous knock-on benefits for the University too. I can't take any credit for this but I do feel enormous pride that Liverpool, my home town, has successfully launched itself on a trajectory that should secure its position among Europe’s best cities. Even though I will no longer be Chancellor of the University, I will continue to act as an Ambassador and supporter for Liverpool John Moores University."
